I think of the clown lol
I mean I haven't read IT, but I am an avid King reader...I'll probably read IT around next year or maybe this. But, yeah I'm not ashamed to admit I think of the clown. Of course when I think of say The Stand. I think all the characters (Nick, Flagg, Frannie, Harold etc), the plot and the emotions it left me with. It will probably be the same with IT when I read it. But come on though....the book has a monster clown in it that eats children. I mean can you blame people for thinking that first? That's a pretty intense image. Yes, it is far more a coming of age tale about growing up.
But the idea itself is just great for a horror novel overall. If I was alive back then (in the 80s) and still wanted to be a writer as I do now. I'd be kicking myself for not thinking up that one!
I read IT in '85/'86 ..... as with many of his books, I read them before they were made into movies so I could get my own perception of what King was trying to say.
So many people don't even seem to really read anymore. Not even on e-readers.
ACTUALLY.
I could be getting totally wrong information of course, but I heard Brandon Sanderson (a big time epic fantasy author) mention that people are reading more now than they were ten years ago according to statistics or whatever.
So *knock on wood* hopefully that's true, but I think books are fine. So that ought to make ya smile!